Greetings from 12 Seasons Farm,
We are looking forward to some rain and slightly cooler weather this week. Most
of the vegetable crops we grow are revitalized and more optimally turgid (full
of water) when the nights are cooler (50s to low 60s). Conversely, there is a
perceptible stress on the crops when both the day and nighttime temperatures
run high. So we are grateful for beautiful weeks like these late in the growing
season.
We are offering eggs again. These come from a farm in Punta Gorda where the
chickens are pastured. They are given supplemental organic feed. The eggs are
unwashed and haven’t been refrigerated yet. They can be counter stored for a
couple weeks so long as they remain unwashed.
We plan to be at Captiva market on Tuesday. For the rest of SW FL, we have
Thursday farm pick up, Thursday home deliveries and Saturday market pick up.
Please place your order by 8 pm Tuesday for Thursday options; and for Saturday
market pick up, place orders by Thursday, 8 pm.
There is planned a sourdough workshop at the farm, April 22 in the late
afternoon. It will be led by Anna Klein. Please stay tuned for details. Please
RSVP with Vicki at [email protected].
Here is our schedule for this week:
TUESDAY
CAPTIVA FARMER’S MARKET: Market runs from 9am-1pm. For those wanting
to preorder for the market, please do so by 8 pm on Sunday for pick-up at the
Tuesday market.
TUESDAY
SANIBEL DROP SITE: A free drop site in Sanibel each Tuesday from 9 am
to 3 pm. This site is hosted by Melissa Lehman. Her address and phone # should
be on your order confirmation email. This will be a self-serve option. Pick up
at their home in their screened foyer which is easily accessible from their
driveway. Produce will be on shelves. There should be 1 spot open their
driveway for a quick pick up. Order online and please pay by credit card (no
cash or checks please). If you see Melissa,
please thank her for providing this option. Order by 8 pm Sunday for this
option.
THURSDAY
FARM PICK-UP & HOME DELIVERY: Place an order online before 8 pm
Tuesday for Thursday all day pick-up at the farm or to receive a home
delivery. For farm pick-up, use original farm entrance, 14840 Old Olga Rd.
Order is usually split between cold produce in walk-in cooler and the air
conditioned structure just left of walk-in cooler.
SATURDAY BONITA SPRINGS FARMER’S MARKET:
Market runs from 8am-noon at the Promenade at Bonita Bay in Bonita Springs. For
those interested in preordering for the market, please do so before 8 pm on
Thursday for pick-up at the Saturday market.
If you have questions
about the farm or your orders please feel free to text or call Danny at
239-229-3579.
Place orders at
12seasonsfarm.com
This is what we are harvesting:
- Strawberries
- Swiss Chard
- Curly Kale
- Flat Kale
- Mixed Kale (a mix of multiple kale varieties)
- Collard greens
- Arugula
- Summercrisp lettuce
- Baby Butterhead lettuce (very limited)
- Large leaf Butterhead lettuce (very limited)
- Heirloom and specialty tomatoes
- Red Slicing tomatoes
- Cherry tomatoes
- Carrots
- Beets
- Round radish
- Watermelon radish
- Daikon radish
- Spring green onions
- Lg. Florida Sweet onions
- Leeks
-
Green Beans
- Sugar Snap Peas (limited)
- Broccolini
- Cauliflower (limited)
- Cabbage
- Cucumbers
- Zucchini
- Eggplant
- Sweet Peppers
- Cilantro
- Flat Parsley
- Curled Parsley
- Dill
- Mint
- Chocolate Mint (very limited)
- Rosemary
- Turmeric
- Papaya
- Grapefruit
- Zipper skin Tangerines (Limited!)
- Bananas (very limited)
- Mulberries
- Sunflowers
- Saw palmetto honey
- Wildflower honey
- Farm fresh eggs (pastured, organically raised)
- Sea of Cortez salt
- Mango, Monkey, and Strawberry Butter
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Many of you know Mike and Justine who came to learn at 12 Seasons Farm. Justine
helped at the Captiva and Bonita markets and Mike at the Bonita market. We are
grateful for the time they spent here with us. Mike learned the craft of
raising tomatoes at a very high level. Justine helped coordinate the strawberry
and carrot harvesting and went to two markets per week along with Mike being
there each Saturday. They have their own homestead that they plan to return to
this coming week in Canada. We wish them the very best!
The kids will especially miss them as they enjoyed a lot of fun times together!
The next round of tomatoes are coming on strong and big!
We have a beautiful crop of sunflowers this week.
Grace is visiting her parents, Jill and Brian, who work on the farm this
season. She is a florist back in Indiana and is also helping out on the farm
this week. These were the flowers that were cut to assemble in to bouquets
going to the Captiva market. Next season we plan to grow more. It has been fun
and beautiful having more diverse flowers this season.
We still have good production on a number of crops
After the market on Saturday, our family finally all sat down together for a
meal after my trip out west with the kids. We enjoyed some of the leftover
produce– a delicious kale massage salad and sautéed zucchini, onion, and
mushroom dish with good bread from the German bakers at the market.
Delicious! We hope you are enjoying good meals and times together with those
you love!
It is good to be back together as a family again. The kids and I had a great
trip to see my parents and brothers and families in California.
On Sunday evening, we had a farewell party for several of the team that are
leaving in the next week or two. It was a great time of sharing. Justin, seen
standing in the photo, will be leaving this week. He is my assistant and a true
12 Seasons Farm hero. He is like a brother to me. His dedication, hard work,
keen agricultural insights, and years of faithfulness to our family, the team,
and to the vision of seeing our soils and farm produce healthy, safe and
delicious food has made us more sustainable and profitable over many years.
Thank you, Justin!
Last night, we distributed the tip money to all 31 people who have worked full
time or as a seasonal volunteers. I let them know the gifts were from you. Each
person received an $80 gift from all the generous gifts you gave from November
through this past weekend. Thank you!!!
We took this photo this morning just before Mike and Justine left. Soon Justin,
Ann, Michelle, Eric and Susanna Hall, and Paul will be heading out over the
next few weeks. It has been a stellar season! We have a lean and capable team
in place to finish out the season over the next couple months.
Thank you for trusting us this season with growing food for your well being and
for your generosity and affirmation that we receive from you each week at the
markets and in person on the farm or through deliveries!
Danny, Vicki, the kids, and the 12 Seasons Team
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